A quick heads-up...waaaay early, I know.

The 2nd Small Business Summit, sponsored by Microsoft, has been announced for March 2007.

Already posted a notice at the funcave about it...so you`ll pardon me if I don`t feel like retyping.

But I will add that last year`s Small Business Summit was the first time I ever heard of StartupNation.

Chris

Is this the same one that SMBTN does?

There`s is around this time in Anaheim, CA

Stuart Crawford
Calgary, AB
http://www.calgarysmbshow.com

Stuart:

Two totally different events, with totally different audiences in mind...

Microsoft`s Small Business Summit:

• Aimed squarely at SMB owners & entrepeneurs.
• "Virtual" conference comprised of webcasts
• Absolutely free

SMBTN`s SMB Summit:

• Aimed squarely at SMB technologists & service providers (like you & me)
• In-person conference
• Costs some buckaroos to attend

Thanks...kinda thought so...however didn`t know for sure...

I am going to post this on my Small Business site - http://www.calgarysmbshow.com

Cheers

Chris, now that you mention it, I do remember last year`s conference, and I distinctly remember picking out the things I wanted to attend, but later on, I also remember being `too busy.`  Thanks for the heads-up on this year`s. I will make it a point to at least check it out.  I would very much like to attend.  As I write I can see that it`s all a matter of commitment.

Rita Ballard

Rita & anyone else who may have missed them:

All the sessions from the 1st Small Business Summit have been archived & are available for on-demand viewing, including the session delivered by a pair of siblings fairly well-known around here.

A link to the recorded archive is part of the write-up at the funcave as well.

Looks like Microsoft moved the registration opening date for Small Business Summit #2 to January 25.

Still think it`s worth the time of everyone here. I`m recommending it to all of my small business clients.

All best!

BTW: Comments are more than welcome!

Sorry for the long delay in responding, everybody.

I wanted to see how the poll results would turn out first. And honestly, they are exactly as I expected.

Small Business Specialist (also called SBSC) is a designation that can be earned by members of the Microsoft Partner program. The fact that an IT service provider  has taken the time to earn the Small Business Specialist designation means a few things that should be important to a small or medium-sized business looking for IT services or support, such as:

• A demonstrated commitment to servicing the SMB sector
• Training & expertise with SMB-focused products
• Successfully passed exams that test that knowledge

So instead of getting burned by Jimmy Joe Bob`s Computer & Bait Shop, a business could look for the distinctive Small Business Specialist logo (which you can see either in the photo area of my profile, or at my company`s website...right smack at the top) & know that a provider has actually put their knowledge & expertise with the SMB sector to the test.

Out of all the kinds of professional IT certification & vendor programs that I`ve ever been involved with in my 12+ year career, the exam for Small Business Specialist was the one most focused on identifying business processes as its primary goal. To my mind, that kind of focus is the key difference between a good SMB provider & a bad SMB provider. That is to say, the difference between someone who can help you build your business...or someone who ends up hindering your business.

But the issue of recognition is the problematic issue for those of us who are Small Business Specialists. As the tiny little poll here shows...there really is little to no knowledge of the Small Business Specialist designation outside of IT-land`s own hermetic little bubble.

I appreciate everyone who took the time to respond to the poll.

All best,